Steroid-dependent switch of OvoL/Shavenbaby controls self-renewal versus differentiation of intestinal stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Adult stem cells must continuously fine-tune their behavior to regenerate damaged organs and avoid tumors. While several signaling pathways are well known to regulate somatic stem cells, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate a cell-intrinsic role for the OvoL family transcription factor, Shavenbaby (Svb), in balancing self-renewal and differentiation of Drosophila intestinal stem cells. We find that svb is a downstream target of Wnt and EGFR pathways, mediating their activity for stem cell survival and proliferation. This requires post-translational processing of Svb into a transcriptional activator, whose upregulation induces tumor-like stem cell hyperproliferation. In contrast, the unprocessed form of Svb acts as a repressor that imposes differentiatio

SUBMITTER: Al Hayek S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7883054 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature